Drayton Manor Theme Park in the UK has announced that the park's founder and owner, George Bryan, has passed away.

Bryan, 92, was a trained engineer with a passion for the entertainment industry. He manufactured penny arcade machines with his father, William, who was known as 'King of the Penny Arcade'.

During the Second World War, Bryan served with Kegworth Local Defence Volunteers, Royal Warwickshire Regiment, Royal Army Ordnance Corp and the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers.

He met his wife, Vera Cartilidge, in May 1942. Vera's family owned California in England pleasure park, which was the inspiration behind Drayton Manor. The couple married in December of that year.

People thought George and Vera Bryan were quite barmy when in 1949 they first arrived at Drayton Manor with the intention of building a family theme park.

They had paid £12,000 ($19,400) for 80 acres of land, which was covered with 4ft-high brambles, mounds of rubbish and old army huts. Undaunted by the challenge, George and Vera, along with a small, dedicated team of engineers and mechanics, spent six months transforming the site.

In April 1950, Drayton Manor Park opened. It had one restaurant, a tea room, three hand operated rides, six rowing boats, some pedal cars and a set of second hand dodgem cars.

Today, the park continues to be run and owned by the family and has succeeded in becoming one of the UK's most popular family attractions.

Bryan received his OBE in 2004.